Selective monitor device for accounting machines



H. PRIEBS 3,367,569

SELECTIVE MONITOR DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1968 Filed March 31, 1965 Feb. 6, 1968 H-PR|EBS 3,367,569

SELECTIVE MONITOR DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed March 51, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet T em T K llll [II I'IIIIIIII 1|! I N/ r Feb. 6, 1968 H. PRIEBS 3,367,569

' SELECTIVE MONITOR DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed March 31, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet Z I Feb. 6, 1968 I H. PRIEBS 3,

SELECTIVE MONITOR'DEVICE FOR ACCOUNTING MACHINES Filed March 31, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A monitor device for selectively programing an accounting machine having mechanisms for performing different component accounting operations respectively includes means for mounting the monitor device on the paper carriage of an accounting machine, rotatable control columns mutually intercoupled for correlated rotation in a given ratio to each other, each of the columns having control members angularly adjustable by rotation of the column and selectively engageable with the accounting-machine mechanisms for selectively programming the machine in dependence upon the rotational setting of the columns, setting means connected with one of the columns for rotationally setting the columns, and a latch-key lock device connected with the setting means.

My invention relates to a monitor device for selectively programming an accounting machine having a number of mechanisms for performing different accounting operations respectively, the selection being made manually or automatically.

For performing different accounting programs, known accounting machines have been provided with a paper carriage to which a programcontrolling monitor device is exchangeably attached. Also known are control devices designed for selecting one of a given group of accounting programs, the particular program desired being set manually by rotationally adjusting a number of mutually coupled control columns, each carrying control members engageable with a selected combination of individual mechanisms of the accounting machine, depending upon the chosen setting of the control columns.

With machines of this type it is desirable that the setting to certain machine operations or accounting programs be exclusively reserved to authorized persons. For this purpose, the keyboard of accounting machines in most cases is provided with one or more locks which prevent the actuation of certain, normally latched control keys until these keys are released with the aid of a removable latch key. For example, actuation of a special key for drawing the total sum from one or more adding mechanisms is normally prevented by a safety lock which releases the key for actuation only after a latch key, kept by the authorized person, has been inserted into the tumbler barrel of the lock.

If such accounting machines are provided with a manually adjustable monitor device for the selection of accounting programs, including the accounting run final totalizing from the adding mechanisms, then the final sum is drawn automatically, even though the final total key of the keyboard has remained locked.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate this deficiency.

Another, more specific object of my invention is to provide an accounting-machine monitor device that affords a manual selection of any of the programs available in the monitor device, with the exception of one or more special programs that are to remain accessible only to authorized persons.

The invention will be described with reference to an embodiment of an accounting-machine monitor device according to the invention illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view onto the monitor device attached to the paper carriage of an accounting machine, the lockable selector portion of the monitor being shown in longitudinal section and in locked position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the selector and locking portion of FIG. 1 on larger scale in the unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is a lateral elevation of the monitor shown in FIG. 1, the locking device being partly sectioned and shown in the position for selection of program I.

FIG. 4 is a partial and partly sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing the selector device in position for program II.

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 except that the selector device is shown in program position III; and

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIGS. 4 and 5 but shows the selector device locked in program position IV.

The illustrated monitor device (FIGS. 1 to 6) is mounted on the rear side of a conventional paper carriage (not illustrated) in a drum-type accounting machine, for example a machine as shown in Patent 3,049,- 288 or in Patent 3,181,784. The monitor device is seated on a transverse bar It: (FIG. 3) of the paper carriage and is exchangeable for another monitor device in which a diiferent group of programs may be stored.

The monitor device 1 comprises two lateral bearing plates 2 and 3 in which three tubular control columns 7, 8 and 9 are journalled, each carrying two spur gears 4, 5 or 6. The three columns are equally spaced from each other, and the spur gears on each column are in meshing engagement with the spur gear of the adjacent column, all gears having the same diameter. Thus the three columns are rotationally coupled with each other so that an angular displacement of the column 7 causes the two other columns to be angularly displaced the same respective amounts. The control columns 7, 8 and 9 are provided with cam discs 10 which serve as control means in known manner. The discs 10 are distributed and fastened on the columns 7, 8 and 9 in accordance with the type of accounting operation they are to control. The discs 10 have respective extensions or lobes 10a and are so designed that, when the columns 7, 8, 9 are rotationally set to given positions, secured by arresting or catch means 11, 12 and 13 of any conventional type, the extensions 10a are located in respective positions (FIG. 3) where they are engageable with corresponding control members (not illustrated) of the accounting-machine mechanisms.

The control column 7 is manually rotatable and, for this purpose, has two shaft ends 14 and 15 extending through the respective bearing plates 3 and 2 to be accessible from the outside. The shaft end 14 carries a knob 16. The shaft end 15 carries a housing 17 which serves as V a selector knob and forms part of a locking device (FIGS.

1, 2). The housing 17 is axially displaceable on an entrainer 18 fastened on the shaft end 15 of column 7 by means of a cotter pin 19. An entrainer pin 20 in entrainer 18 protrudes outwardly into an axially elongated hole 17a of housing 17 and serves for coupling the housing 17 with the entrainer 18 and as a guide for the axial displacement of the housing 17 relative to the entrainer 18. The housing 17 is provided with sector-shaped, radially protruding extensions 17b and 170 on the side facing the bearing plate 2 (FIGS. 1 to 6). The sectors may coact with a stop pin 21 fastened on the bearing plate 2.

A lock body 22 (FIG. 2) is fasened by screws 23 (FIGS. 2, 3) in the forward portion of the housing 17. The barrel 25 of the lock, rotatable by means of a matching latch key, carries a lateral pin 26 on which a sleeve 27 is fastened. The shaft end 15 of column 7 protrudes coaxially into the open end of the sleeve 27 which, together with the housing 17, is axially displaceable on the shaft end 15. The sleeve 27, furthermore, is rotatable, without rotation of the housing 17, by turning the lock barrel 25 with the aid of an inserted latch key 24. A transverse pin 28, mounted on the shaft end 15, engages a rectangular slot 29 (FIGS. 1, 2) of sleeve 27. The end 29a of the slot 29 (FIG. 2) serves to coact with the pin 28 and the lock barrel 25 to latch the housing 17. The axial displacement of the housing 17 may be aided by a spring 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Depending upon the kind of spring used (pull spring or pressure spring), the spring force is effective to aid either the locking or the unlocking displacement.

The operation of the lockable monitor device is as follows.

The fourcontrol positions of the intercoupled control columns 7, 8 and 9, which, in the illustrated monitor embodiment, are selectively adjusted by turning the manual control knobs 16 or 17, correspond to the following four accounting programs:

Program I: (Selector position I-FIG. 3): Register ing a sales transaction (a) Amount, (b) Fee or tax, (c) Sum of (a) and (b), (d) Amount tendered, and (e) Amount of change (e=dc);

Program II: (Selector position IIFIG. 4): Drawing an auxiliary subtotal from two adding mechanisms;

Program III: (Selector position IIIFIG. 5): Special functions. This may be any selected program fixedly stored into the monitor in accordance with particular requirements of the user;

Program IV: (Selector position IVFIG. 6): Final balance; computing and registering the grand total from all adding mechanisms. This program setting is locked and can be unlocked only when using the latch key 24-.

The three programs I, II and III may be freely selected by the machine attendant. As will be seen from FIG. 3, the housing 17 can be turned from the illustrated position counterclockwise to the selector positions according to FIG. 4 01 FIG. 5, thus turning all of the control columns 7, 8 and 9 to one of the corresponding program positions I, II or III.

For setting the control columns 7, 8 and 9 to the program position IV, the key 24 is to be inserted into the lock barrel 25 and turned counterclockwise 45. During such rotation, the pin 28 glides along the slot portion 29a up to the axially extending portion of the slot 29 so that the sleeve 27 can be shifted axially together with the housing 17. This moves the extensions 17b and 17c out of the latching plane of the stop 21 and thereby permits turning the control columns 7 to 9 to the position 1V (FIG. 6), so that now the machine run effecting the grand-totalizing operation can take place in accordance with the automatic program control.

If desired, the sector-shaped extensions 17b and 170 which limit the turning motion of the housing '17 may also be rigidly mounted on the shaft end of the control column 7, and the stop pin 21 may then be displaced in its axial direction under control by a latch key 24 in the lateral bearing plate 2 in order to be shifted from a blocking position to the releasing position.

To those skilled in the art, it will be obvious upon a study of this disclosure that such and other structural variations are readily applicable and, hence, that the invention may be given embodiments other than particularly illustrated and described herein, without departing from the essential features of my invention and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. A monitor device for selectively programing an accounting machine having mechanisms for performing different component accounting operations respectively, comprising means for mounting the monitor device on the paper carriage of an accounting machine, rotatable control columns mutually intercoupled for correlated rotation in a given ratio to each other, each of said columns having control members angularly adjustable by rotation of the column and selectively engageable with the accounting-machine mechanisms for selectively programing the machine in dependence upon the rotational setting of said columns, setting means connected with one of said columns for rotationally setting said columns, and a latch-key lock device connected with said setting means.

2. A monitor device for selectively programing an accounting machine having mechanisms for performing different component accounting operations respectively, comprising means for mounting the monitor device on the paper carriage of an accounting machine, rotatable control columns mutually intercoupled for correlated rotation in a given ratio to each other, each of said columns having control members angularly adjustable by rotation of the column and selectively engageable with the accounting-machine mechanisms for selectively pro-' graming the machine in dependence upon the rotational setting of said columns, a manually rotatable setting means connected with one of said columns and accessible from the outside of the device for rotationally setting said columns, a latch-key lock for normally blocking said columns from being set to at least one of said rotational settings, said lock having a housing which forms part of said manually rotatable setting means.

3. In an accounting-machine monitor device according to claim 1, said setting means comprising a manually rotatable member having radial extensions angularly spaced from each other, a stop abuttable by said extensions to limit the rotational setting of said columns in accordance with the angular spacing between said extensions when said lock device is locked, and said lock device having means displaceable upon release by the latch key to then also permit rotating said columns to at least one normally blocked setting.

4. A monitor device for selectively programing an accounting machine having mechanisms for performing different component accounting operations respectively,

comprising means for mounting the monitor device on the paper carriage of an accounting machine, rotatable control columns mutually intercoupled for correlated rotation in a given ratio to each other, each of said columns having control members angularly adjustable by rotation of the column and selectively engageable with the accounting-machine mechanisms for selectively programing the machine in dependence upon the rotational setting of said columns, a manually rotatable setting means connected with one of said columns and accessible from the outside of the device for rotationally setting said columns, a latch-key lock for normally blocking said columns from being set to at least one of said rotational settings, said lock having a housing which forms part of said manually rotatable setting means, said housing having radially protruding extensions angularly spaced from each other, a fixed stop abuttable by said extensions to limit the rotational setting of said columns in accordance with the angular spacing between said extensions when said lock device is locked, and said housing being axially displaceable when unlocked to then permit disengaging said extension from said stop to permit rotating said columns to at least one normally blocked setting.

8,367,569 5 5 5. In an accounting-machine monitor device according References Cited to claim 4, said housing being coaxial to one of said UNITED STATES PATENTS control columns and coupled therewith, said lock having otat M t M b 1 l m d 2,593,666 4/1952 Goodbar et a1. 235-13O a r a afoul F 3,034,329 5/1962 Pitney et a1. 235-130X manually in said housing and dlsplaceable 1n the anal 5 3 076 595 2/1963 Becker direction when unlocked, Said one column having a Shaft 3 0 0 112 3/19 Busch 235 6O.31 coaxially protruding into said sleeve, and pin-slot coupling means which couple said sleeve to said shaft. STEPHEN J. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner. 

